Call for supplies as Oregon standoff enters second week

The ranchers — Dwight Hammond and his son Steven Hammond — distanced themselves from Bundy’s group and reported to prison Monday.

The network, a consortium of groups from Oregon, Washington and Idaho, arrived at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge midmorning in a convoy of about 18 vehicles, carrying rifles and handguns and dressed in military attire and bulletproof vests.

Some of the men told journalists they were there to help with security for the group that has occupied the headquarters of the refuge since January 2.

“We’re here to establish a security buffer between the gentlemen here at the refuge, the community, citizens and law enforcement”, said Brandon Curtiss of the Idaho Three Percenters.

The armed militia, which is occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, may have run out of clean underwear. One of the original occupiers of the refuge, LaVoy Finicum, said earlier on Saturday that the network’s help is appreciated, but “we want the long guns put away”.

The Oregonian reports that Rep. Dallas Heard, a Republican from Roseburg, talked with the group at the refuge on Saturday.

Bundy met Thursday with Harney County Sheriff David Ward, who asked Bundy to heed the will of locals and leave the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. A self-proclaimed liaison said the heavily-armed crew came to the area out of their own volition, not at Bundy’s request.

The standoff is the latest flare up of tensions over federal management of Western lands. Ammon Bundy is the son of rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a 2014 Nevada standoff with the government over grazing rights.

Regional militias, such as Pacific Patriots Network, Oath Keepers and III%, had pledged to lend their support to Bundy. A judge later ruled that the terms fell short of minimum sentences requiring them to serve about four more years. Ammon Bundy says they will leave when there’s a plan in place to turn over federal lands to locals.

Federal, state and local law authorities have been closely monitoring the situation at the refuge but have so far taken no action against Bundy and his followers, apparently to avoid a confrontation.